Sean West (8-6) worked five innings for Florida, yielding three runs, two earned, and seven hits. The rookie left-hander improved to 5-2 with a 4.67 ERA in his last nine starts.

Jorge Cantu had three hits and scored twice for Florida, which was five games back of wild card-leading Colorado with eight games left entering the day.

The Mets scored two runs in the ninth against Matt Lindstrom, who helped New York with a one-out throwing error. Lindstrom then struck out David Wright with a runner on second before being replaced by Brendan Donnelly, who fanned Carlos Beltran for his first save.

Fernando Tatis and Beltran homered for the Mets, who finished with 11 hits.

Wright had a tiebreaking RBI double in the fifth but the Mets missed out on a chance to add to their lead. Wright was a couple of steps from scoring when Jeff Francoeur was out trying to stretch a single into a double, ending the inning.

Ross left the game after being hit on the left hand while batting with two out in the fourth. Maine also hit the next batter, Brett Carroll, but escaped a bases-loaded jam by striking out West.

Notes — Mets manager Jerry Manuel said SS Jose Reyes (right hamstring) ran "with some intensity" while rehabbing Saturday. "How he feels (Sunday) and the next day will determine the progression," said Manuel, who added Reyes likely will not return in time to play in the season's final series against Houston. ... The Marlins had their third straight crowd of 30,000-plus (35,666). The only previous time that happened this season was during a three-game series in June against the Yankees.

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